The Sunday News
Walter Mswazie in Masvingo
A TRAiNEE electrician with Hippo Valley sugar estates in Chiredzi died after plunging from a 15-metre tower light he was repairing, police have confirmed.
Desire Chikwanda (26) of Hippo Valley Hostels reportedly slipped from the tower light as he tried to replace a light bulb.
Chikwanda sustained a fractured arm, a swollen forehead and was bleeding profusely when he was rushed to Hippo Valley Medical Centre where he died upon admission from the resultant injuries.
Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa confirmed the incident which happened on Monday around 8pm.
“I can confirm receiving a report of sudden death by falling of a man on apprenticeship training from Hippo Valley Estates.
“The man fell from a height of 15 metres while fixing a fault on a tower light. His body was taken to Hippo Valley Medical Centre for postmortem,” said Asst Insp Dehwa.
He said on the day the late Chikwanda was at work with a fellow trainee electrician, Mr Carryon Mangezi (21) of Domain in the same sugar estate when he was asked to attend to a fault on a tower light.
Asst Insp Dehwa said Chikwanda who is suspected to have climbed up the tower light without fastening safety belts slipped and fell to the ground.
He said some workers attempted to administer first aid before rushing him to Hippo Valley Medical Centre in one of the company vehicles.
Meanwhile, a source from Hippo Valley Estates alleged that Chikwanda had earlier on told his superiors who had instructed him to attend to the fault that he could not climb up the tower light since it was at night and dark. —@walterbmswazie2
